Length adjustment means for garments



Feb. 23, 1965 M. M. ISAACS LENGTH ADJUSTMEN T MEANS FOR- GARMENTS Filed Oct. 18, 1962 United States Patent O 3,170,167 LENGTH ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR GARMENTS Marcus Manly lsaacs, Coogee, New South Wales, Australia (583 Pacific Highway, St. Leonard's, New South Wales, Australia) v 4 g t t Filed Oct. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 231,392 Claims priority, application Australia, Nov. 9, 1961,

. .1 .Claim. (Cl. 2269) This invention relatesto garments, and has particular referenceto the alteration of ready-made garments to fit purchasers, i I

There are so many styles and, types of ready-made garments on the market today that the average retailer is unable to carry the numerous garments in the range of sizes which would be necessary to fit his various customers.

As a consequence, alteration of ready-made garments to fit customers is the usual thing, particularly as to the length of the leg of trousers and the sleeves of coats and jackets, the length of skirts, and the body lengths of coats or jackets.

These alterations are made by the retailer of the garment, or by a local tailor, and some are attempted in the home. As the facilities and skill for making the alterations, and removing and replacing the creases, are rarely equivalent to those in the factory, such local alterations are regarded as sub-standard, below the quality of the rest of the garment.

The adjustment of leg length of trousers by the retailer is so common that in advanced countries it is quite usual for the manufacturer to supply the retailer with trousers having unfinished bottoms. This involves the retailer in a costly tailoring and pressing operation with every sale.

The object of this invention is to provide means by which alterations to garments may be made in a simple, expeditious and neat manner by the retailer or even by the housewife. It has particular application to alterations in the leg length of trousers, and the lengths of coats or jackets, skirts and sleeves, but it is not necessarily limited to these applications as its use may be'extended to other garments or parts of garments.

The inventionpermits the altered garment to be finished, even by unskilled persons, to a standard equal to factory-made.

A further advantage is that the permanent creasing of trousers and sleeves, which has become an important sales feature, can be used, and is retained undisturbed by w an alteration.

In order tofully describe the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings which depict preferred forms thereof as applied to plain bottomed trousers, and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trouser bottom opened along a side-seam for illustrative purposes,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational of the same, taken on plane 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, after a length adjustment has been elrected,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an opened trouser bottom to Which'a modified form of the invention has been applied,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on plane 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, after a length adjustment has been efifected.

It will be understood that the trouser shown is of the The material of the trouser leg is cut, during manufacture, to the maximum length'which it is proposed to provide in the particular size, plus thematerial required for a bottom hem.

The bottom of the; trouser 7 is returned inside the leg toconstitute a hem flap 10, deep enough to reduce the trouser leg to the minimum length required inthis particular size.

A length of suitable material 11 (such as lining material) is secured to the face of the inturnedhem flap 10 by the desired number of rows of parallel adjustment stitching 12, 12 ofwhich six rows are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

These rows 12, 12 may be applied simultaneously by a multiple needle machine, and they are preferably in a readily removable stitch. The spacing between the rows is determined by the intervals of adjustment which it is intended to provide, say one-half inch spacing of rows to give equivalent length increments to the trouser leg. The uppermost row 12 may be of permanent stitching.

In the case where the bottom of the trouser is other than straight, for instance slightly arcuate, the rows of adjustment stitches follow the contour of the trouser bot tom. The bottom row 12 of stitches is spaced above the bottom of the trouser sufiiciently to leave the desirable hem-show 13.

The free section 11 of the adjustment lining 11 is returned upwards Within the trouser and secured to the inner surface of the leg by blind stitching 14, which does not penetrate the leg material.

When completed in this way, the adjustment lining 11 virtually constitutes a tube Within the bottom of the leg. It is clearly not essential that the adjustment lining be continuous in this manner, and it may be interrupted in the form of spaced sections around the inside of the trouser bottom.

The trouser legs are now at their shortest length, and are finished in the usual way, which may include pressing the hemmed bottoms; Alternatively this pressing may be left to the retailer to perform-after any necessary length adjustment has been etfected.

To increase the length of leg, it is merely necessary for the retailer or purchaser to cut and remove the lowest row 12 of adjustment stitching, as shownin FIG. 3, when the hem-line drops by the distance between 12 and the next row of adjustment stitching. Further increases in length are effected by removal of further rows of adjustment stitching, and can be efiected at home at intervals to meet the needs of a growing boy.

It will be noted that the vertical creases 9, 9 which were continued to the full length of the inturned hem it), provide the correct creases at the bottom of the trouser as it is lengthened.

In the modifiedform, shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the hem 1G is inturned as above described, and'the parallel rows 15, 15 of adjustment stitching are made in the adjustment lining 16, forming tucks 17, 18 and 19, the

two former being internal, and the latter external of the lining.

The lower edge of theadjustment lining 16 is secured to the top of the hem 10 by permanent stitching 20, and its upper edge is blind-stitched at 21 to the inner face of the trouser leg, as heretofore.

To increase leg length, it is merely necessary to cut and remove one or more of the rows of adjustment stitches 15, 15, as shown in FIG. 6.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that Patented Feb. 23, 1965:

and the bottom hems of jackets, coats, skirts, and other garments.

The invention provides a simple and quick means for overcoming the difficulties and expenses associated with providing stock garments in diiferent lengths, and it has considerable economical value in this field.

What I claim is:

The combination with a garment having a bottom, of length'adjustment means therefor, such length adjustment means including a hem flap freely returned within the garment Without direct' attachment to the garment, an adjustment lining securing said hem flap in adjusted length position in relation to the garment, said adjustment lining having inner and outer ends and being permanently attached at its inner end to the inner surface of said garment at a point above said hem flap and with its outer end returned to overlie said returned hem flap, and a plurality of spaced rows of adjustment stitches which are parallel to said bottom of the garment and which do not penetrate the outer surface of the garment, said rows of adjustment stitches securing together said overlying portions of said hem flap and adjustment lining and the extreme outer edge of the adjustment lining being secured firmly to the hem flap by the lowermost row of adjustment stitches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,643,159 9/27 Greenberg 2--93 X 2,470,031 5/49 Harris 2-269 X 2,527,973 10/50 Thomas et al. 2269 2,535,224 12/50 Nachem 2232 2,589,367 3/52 Goldstein 2269 X 2,713,685 7/55 Nachem 2-269 2,720,655 10/55 Simon et al. 2-275 FOREIGN PATENTS 748,375 5/56 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

